BBK Mod Package and Header Install on a 2001 Mustang

It appears we're now officially entering a time when finding bone-stock Fox Mustangs to modify is a challenge. Seriously, stock '79-'93s are no longer in abundance. Of course, this progressive drought gives us good reason for concern.

However, while the Fox hunt becomes more challenging, we're thankfully seeing a steady rise in the number of stock-as-a-rock Ponies from the next wave—'96-'04 4.6-liter Mustang GTs. Yes, it seems the closer we get to finally experiencing the highly anticipated '15 'Stangs, the more we're seeing SN-95 and New Edge rides appear on our radar, with medium-to-high- mileage Two-Valve powerplants that are perfect for upgrades.

With affordability being the buzz theme for most pre-Coyote Mustang projects these days, many of our recent test efforts have been focused on various groups of the basic air-induction and exhaust hardware for fuel-injected, '86-'10 Ponies; evaluating their installation simplicity and the impact they make on relatively untouched 'Stangs.

As we've said many times, bolting a power adder onto any of the engines that motivate the 'Stangs we cover is a sure-fire way to increase their performance. However, this direct route to big steam often leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to the financial side of things.

While a 'Stang's horsepower potentially can be doubled once a blower, turbo, or nitrous is added, an important caveat to note is that exorbitant gains typically come only after some serious coin is spent. With that notion in mind, while we certainly dig the process of making fantastic steam, we also enjoy presenting mod projects that won't flatten your wallet.

BBK Performance offers all of the parts that make up basic and intermediate bolt-on performance systems for late-model 'Stangs. While underdrive pulleys, CAIs, throttle bodies, after-cat exhaust, and X- or H-shaped crossovers constitute the simple stuff, the next level of “basic” typically includes taking exhaust upgrades a bit further by installing headers, which is exactly our plan is for this project.

For this Two-Valve edition of entry-level-parts testing, we're adding long-tubes to the standard group of basics that make up a BBK bolt-on package. Chris Goodner's stock, 67,000-mile '01 Bullitt is our test bed, as it's a perfect example of the older EFI Mustangs that are now becoming more prevalent on today's modifyication scene. We really have to thank GTR High Performance's Ricardo Topete for finding our test Mustang, and technician Eddie Zapata for handling the bolt-on duties. Presenting long-tube headers to this equation brings a need for SCT PCM tuning, which Chris Jones of Blow-By Racing handles for GTR via the Internet.

These photos and captions detail the operation, which was done in reverse order (headers and tuning first, then pulleys, throttle body and CAI as a threesome) to accommodate the additional time necessary for installing long-tubes. The top-side parts are all DIY-friendly to 'Stangbangers with mechanic skills and a driveway to work in. The headers, on the other hand, are best left for Mustang pros like Eddie, who have the tools and facilities (twin-post hoist) necessary for the heavier job.

On The Dyno

Our latest work with basic bolt-ons for 4.6-liter Mustang engines proves there's a wealth of horsepower holed up in a stock Two-Valve's exhaust.

GTR High Performance's Ricardo Topete and Chris Jones of Blow-By Racing collaborated on the dyno and laptop keyboards to coax approximately 20 additional horses from the stock Two-Valve engine in Chris Goodner's '01 Bullitt after exchanging the ‘Stang's factory exhaust manifolds for a set of BBK Performance long-tube headers, and remapping the Pony's PCM with SCT tuning software.

Taking a slightly different approach with the remaining bolt-ons, the BBK Black Out cold-air-intake system, 65mm throttle body, and three-piece underdrive pulleys were examined as a group instead of in our standard individual manner, and opening up the intake produced almost the exact amounts of rear-wheel horsepower and torque that we anticipated from the collective package.